The Eagles’ decision to place their chips on Chip Kelly is fascinating.
This figures to be one of two things for the Eagles—terrific or terrible. There’s no middle ground with a move like this. The Eagles have done more than just hire a head coach. They have adopted a style. Kelly-ball. Up-tempo. Unconventional. Imaginative. If it works, we’ll see other NFL teams copy some of Kelly’s philosophies. If it doesn’t work, we’ll see Kelly skip town for another college job, leaving a posse of irate Eagles fans behind.
This is a calculated gamble for the Eagles, considering Kelly’s success at Oregon where he went 46-7. This is a time of transition for the league. Robert Griffin III led the Redskins to the playoffs running the read option. The duel-threat abilities of Colin Kaepernick with the 49ers and Russell Wilson of the Seahawks have made both teams far more explosive.
An immediate question is whether Kelly coming to Philadelphia means Michael Vick is staying. And if Vick does stay, can his body withstand the pounding it might take in Kelly’s system?
Many figured Vick was done with the Eagles after an injury-plagued disappointing 2012 and Nick Foles’ emergence as a potential long-term starter. However, a quarterback with Vick’s mobility in Kelly’s system has to be considered a possibility. The Eagles already have some offensive personnel that fit Kelly’s style—wide receivers with speed like DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. LeSean McCoy, an explosive back. Vick is due a ton of money next season, but if he's willing to re-work his deal, maybe Vick and Foles battle it out for the starting job.
Whatever Kelly’s plan is, it sold Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. He could have hired three coaches that have gone to a Super Bowl—Ken Whisenhunt, Lovie Smith and Brian Billick. Instead, the Eagles chose Kelly.
"Chip Kelly will be an outstanding head coach for the Eagles," Lurie said in a statement. "He has a brilliant football mind. He motivates his team with his actions as well as his words. He will be a great leader for us and will bring a fresh, energetic approach to our team."
Sounds great, but it won’t be simple. The Eagles were 4-12 last season, turnover-prone on offense and soft on defense. Even if Kelly jumpstarts their attack, he’ll need help on the defensive side, both from his coaching staff, and from the front office led by young general manager Howie Roseman.
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